Paul Scholes has claimed that the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham is “more likely” to be settled by a “mistake” rather than “quality.”
Manchester United face Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday evening in an all-English showdown at Athletic Club’s San Mames Stadium.
The Red Devils earned their progression to the 2025 final after Manchester United overcame La Liga outfit Athletic Club in the semi-finals of the tournament.
United defeated Athletic Club 3-0 in the first leg in Spain before the Red Devils came from behind to beat the Spanish club 4-1 at Old Trafford in the return leg.
Tottenham, on the other hand, punched their route to the final by defeating Bodo/Glimt across both legs of their Europa League semi-final bracket.
Spurs picked up a 3-1 win in the first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Ange Postecoglou’s men travelled to Norway and secured a 2-0 win over Bodo/Glimt.
Despite reaching the Europa League final in Bilbao, both United and Tottenham have significantly underperformed in their respective Premier League campaigns.
United languish in 16th place in the Premier League table and Ruben Amorim’s men are only one point clear of 17th-place Tottenham with one league match remaining.
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Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Paul Scholes singles out ‘match-winning’ Man Utd vs Tottenham players in the 2025 Europa League final in Bilbao
Ruben Amorim could sign off his season as Manchester United manager with his first piece of silverware if the Red Devils can once again lift the Europa League trophy.
The Europa League title is also essential for United to secure their only route back to Europe for the 2025-26 season via Champions League football.
Tottenham, much like United, also need to win the Europa League final if Ange Postecoglou’s side want to play European football for the following campaign.
Paul Scholes admitted that he could see Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes or Alejandro Garnacho being the difference-maker for United in the Europa League final.
The 50-year-old United legend also singled out Heung-min Son, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson for the impact that they could have for Spurs against United.
Speaking in his TNT Sports column, Scholes said: “When you look at the form of the two teams in the Premier League, they both make defensive mistakes and errors are more likely with the pressure on.
“However, there are players like Fernandes, Amad, Garnacho, Son, Solanke and Johnson who are capable of match-winning moments.
“It is more likely that a mistake rather than a bit of quality will decide the game, but with these two teams, anything can happen.”
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What is Paul Scholes’ Man United vs Tottenham prediction for the 2025 Europa League final?
Scholes insisted that the Europa League final is “hard to call,” but the former United midfielder ‘favours’ the Red Devils in getting “over the line” against Tottenham.
“I think without [James] Maddison and [Dejan] Kulusevski, Spurs are forced to be more defensive,” he continued.
“Those two are the best players and make the team tick and play good football.
“They both played a part and scored in Spurs’ three wins over United this season. They make a huge difference to this Spurs team and without them, they are massively weaker.
“It’s so hard to call this game. I think with Spurs missing those two key players and United having more experience in finals and winning trophies, I just favour United to get over the line.”
United and Tottenham’s Europa League clash at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao is slated for kick-off at 8pm UK time on Wednesday evening.